Tamperproof replaceable cap



May 30, 1967 P. P. GACH TAMPERPROOF' REPLACEABLE CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1965 INVENTOR. PE THE F. EACH. BY

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May 30, 1967 p GACH 3,322,298

TAMPERPROOF REPLACEABLE CAP Filed June 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zq 22 E5 1U 25 3 Q 34 PL TEE P. 16 I 5 -E BY ll QAT'T'YE'.

United States Patent Gfitice 3,322,298 Patented May 30, 1967 3,322,238 TAMPEEPROGF REPLACEABLE CAP Peter P. Gaclr, Evansville, ind, assignor to Sunbeam lllastics Corporation, Evansville, llnd., a corporation of Indiana Filed lune 11, 1965', Ser. No. 463,194 7 Claims. (Cl. 22(l60) This invention relates to a tamperproof replaceable cap and, more particularly, to a tamperproof replaceable cap, for use on a container having a dispensing opening, which can be removed and replaced numerous times without damaging the carp.

Dispensing containers, for example, aerosol cans, consist of a cylindrical can body, having a circular hori zontal cross section, and a raised or dome-shaped upper end. A a dispensing opening is provided in the raised upper end and often consists of a valve structure through which the contents of the container are dispensed under pressure. A cap is placed upon or over the upper end of the dispensing container to surround and protect the dispensing opening.

A problem encountered by merchants who market this type of container is that customers often remove the caps from the cans prior to purchase. This may 'be done for either of two common reasons: to test or sample the contents of the can; or, when the price of the can is stamped on the lid, to place the cap of a can which bears a lower selling price on a can having a higher selling price.

Other problems which necessitate the placing of a replaceable cap on a container are the desirability of keeping dust and other contaminants from the dispensing opening and the prevention of accidental activation of the valve mechanism.

Prior art caps have not been satisfactory on aerosol containers bearing ingredients such as insecticides or paints. The prior art caps were ineffective after the caps were initially removed because they lost their tamperproof characteristics. Therefore, after the caps were initially removed and replaced, children could easily remove the contents.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a tamperproof replaceable cap which remains tamperproof when replaced on a dispensing container after it has been initially removed from such container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tamperproof replaceable cap having disengagement means which are easily and quickly utilized by a dispensing container user.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a tamperproof cap having novel holding and expanding means which cooperate with a bead located on a dispensing container, wherein the cap is tightly secured to the dispensing container.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation, with parts broken away, of a dispensing container and a first embodiment of a tamperproof replaceable cap, according to the instant invention, and showing a tool being used to remove the cap from the container, and with a partially removed position of the cap indicated by dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation, similar to FIG. 1, taken at a position 90 removed from the position in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, with parts shown in cross section;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation, similar to FIG. 1, however showing a second embodiment of a tamperproof replaceable cap according to the instant in vention;

' is not FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation, similar to FIG. 4 taken at a position removed from the position in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan View, with parts broken away and shown in cross section, taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken along the line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7 and showing in particular novel holding and expanding means;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the interrelation of the tamperproof cap and the dispensing container, as the cap is removed from the container;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, taken along the line jlt -1ll of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along the line lllll of FIG. 9.

Briefly, the invention relates to an improved tamperproof replaceable cap for use on a dispensing container an upright body which is circular in horizontal cross section. The container has a dispensing opening located. at an upper end of its body and an annular, horizontally extending, head which extends radially outwardly from the container body adjacent the upper end. The tamperproof replacement cap comprises a generally cylindrically shaped body having an integral top on the upper end of the body forming a generally cup shaped struc ture. An annular skirt is located at the lower end of the cap body. Integral holding means are provided on the skirt for engagement beneath the head of the container when the cap is in position on the container. The cap also has disengagement means for removing the cap from the may be inserted in the access opening to remove the cap from its position on Referring to FIG. generally indicated at 20. The assembly 26 comprises a dispensing container 21 and a tamperproof replaceable cap 22.

The dispensing container 21 has a container body 23. The body 23 has a circular horizontal cross section when upper end of the container body 23 by an annular, horizontally extending, bead 25. The head 25 extends radially outwardly beyond the upper end of the container body 23 and has a predetermined outer diameter. A valve mechanism 26 is mounted on the domed top The valve mechanism 26 includes a valve actuator 27 having a dispensing opening 28.

Although the dispensing container 22-2, illustrated in FIG. 1, is a pressurized container, the present invention limited to a tamperproof replaceable cap for a pressurized container but is equally suitable for use on non-pressurized containers.

The tamperproof replaceable cap 22, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, has a generally cylindrically shaped body 29 and an integral circular top 3t mounted on the upper end of the body 29. In the present embodiment, the body 29 and the top 34 define a cup-shaped structure.

The cap 22 has an integral annular skirt 31 at the lower end of the body 29. In the present embodiment, the skirt 3] extends radially outwardly from the body 29 of the cap 22 and a Web portion 32 joins the skirt 31 to the body 29. However, the skirt 31 can be merely an extension of the body 29 (not shown) with no intermediate connecting web portion.

Preferably, the cap 22 is constructed of a semi-flexible material, for example polypropylene, for reasons which will be described in detail below.

In the present embodiment, the skirt 31 and the web portion 32 define a bead recess 33. The bottom of the web portion 32 defines the upper limit of the bead recess 33 The lower limit of the bead recess 33 is defined by holding means which are provided on the skirt 31. The holding means, in the present embodiment, include a plurality of integral, inwardly directed, and horizontally extending retainers 34-. The retainers 34 are circumferentially spaced on the interior of the skirt 31 and are located adjacent the lower edge of the skirt 31. The retainers 34 extend inwardly beneath the head 25 of the dispensing container 21 when the tamperproof replaceable cap 22 is in the operating position.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 79, in the preferred embodiment, a plurality of inwardly directed, horizontally extending, and circumferentially spaced expanders 35 are integrally mounted on the interior of the skirt 31. The expanders 35 are vertically spaced from the retainers 34 and each of the expanders 35 is positioned circumferentially between adjacent ones of the retainers 34. The diameter of a circle defined by inner surfaces 36 of the expanders 35 is slightly smaller than the predetermined outside diameter of the bead 25 of the dispensing container 21. Normally, the difference in the respective diameters is a few thousandths of an inch. Because of the smaller diameter of the circle defined by the inner surfaces 36 of the expanders 35, the cap 22 must be forced downwardly over the dispensing bead 25. When this is done, the semi-flexible material, of which the cap 22 is constructed, is deformed outwardly at the locations of the circumferentially spaced expanders 35 and a compensating inward movement occurs at the locations of the retainers 34. This inward movement of the retainers 34 moves such retainers further inwardly under the head 25 of the dispensing container 21 and tightly secures the cap "22 onto the dispensing container 21 when the container and cap assembly 20 is in the operating or tamperproof position. The cap 22 cannot be easily moved from the dispensing container 21 without the use of a tool, as will be described in detail below.

Disengagement means are provided for removing the cap 22 from the dispensing container 21. The disengagement means includes an integral reinforced member 37 which, in the present embodiment (see FIGS. 1-3) extends upwardly adjacent the web portion 32 of the skirt 31. The reinforced member 37 defines a rectangularly shaped access opening 38 therethrough.

When it is desired to remove the cap 22 from the dispensing container 21 a tool, for example a screw driver 39, is inserted through the access opening 38. The tip of the screw driver 39 engages the domed top 24- of the dispensing container 21. Referring to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, as the handle of the screw driver 39 is moved upwardly, a portion of the skirt 31 adjacent the location of the access opening 38 is deformed outwardly whereby the contiguous retainers 34 are also moved outwardly until they clear the bead 25 of the dispensing container 21 (see FIG.

After the dispensing container 21 has been utilized, the cap 22 'may be replaced upon the container 21 by applying an axial and downward force on the top 3d of the cap 22 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispensing container 21. As the skirt 31 moves downwardly over the container bead 25, the skirt 31 is deformed (see FIG. 9), as the retainers 34 move past the bead 25. The cap 22 continues downwardly until the head 25 of the dispensing container 21 is seated in the bead recess 33. Also, as the cap 22 moves downwardly, the expanders 35 engage the outer diameter of the bead 25 and deform the skirt 31 of the cap 22, as explained above, whereby the retainers 34 are forced inwardly beneath bead 25. One of the important features of the present invention is that the cap 22 retains its complete tamperproof character even after it has been initially removed from the dispensing container 21.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. Referring to FIG. 4, a dispensing container 21a has a domed top 24a and a container bead 25a of a predetermined outside diameter. A tamperproof replaceable cap 22a is generally cup shaped and includes a cylindrically shaped body 29a having a skirt 31a at its lower end. A reinforced member 37a integral with the cap 22a is located adjacent the skirt 31a. In this embodiment, an access opening 38a (see FIG. 5) is defined by a portion of the reinforced member 37a and a portion of the skirt 31a. The cap 22a has a plurality of circumferentially spaced retainers 34a adjacent the lower interior edge of the skirt 31a. A plurality of integral expanders 35a are vertically spaced from the retainers 34a on the interior of the skirt 31a.

A screw driver 33a is inserted through the access opening 38a and the cap 22a is removed and replaced in a manner substantially identical with the method disclosed above with respect to the cap 22.

The cap of the invention provides a tamperproof closure which prevents the sampling of the contents or the accidental removal of the cap by small children. The cap may also be removed and replaced and still retain its tamperproof characteristics even after repetitive removals and replacements.

While the present invention has been disclosed with a specific arrangement and disposition of the parts, it should be expressly understood that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tamperproof replaceable cap for use on a dispensing container having an upright body and a horizontally protruding bead around such body near the upper end thereof, said tamperproof replaceable cap being constructed of a semi-flexible plastic material and comprising, a generally cylindrically shaped body, a top integrally mounted on the upper end of said body, said body having an annular skirt portion adjacent its lower edge, said annular skirt portion having an interior surface, holding means integral with said skirt portion for retaining said cap on such dispensing container, said holding means including a plurality of inwardly directed and circumferentially spaced retainers positioned on said interior surface adjacent the lower edge of said skirt portion, said retainers extending inwardly beneath such bead on such dispensing container when said cap is in position on such dispensing container, a plurality of inwardly directed and circumferentially spaced expanders positioned on said interior surface in vertically spaced relationship to said retainers, said expanders engaging such bead when said cap is in position on such dispensing container, and disengagement means on said cap for removing said cap from such container, said disengagement means including a tool access opening defined by said body.

2. A tamperproof replaceable cap, according to claim 1, wherein a respective one of said expanders is positioned above and between adjacent ones of said retainers, and wherein the diameter of a circle defined by the inner surfaces of said expanders is less than the outer diameter of said bead, whereby when said cap is forced downwardly over such head said expanders engage such bead and such flexible material is deformed forcing said retainers inwardly beneath said bead.

3. A tamperproof replaceable cap, for use on a dispensing container having circular horizontal cross section, such container having a dispensing opening located at an upper end of said body and an annular, horizontally protruding, bead of a predetermined outer diameter, said bead extending radially outwardly from an upper portion of said container at a location below such dispensing opening, said tamperproof replaceable cap comprising, an inverted cup-shaped body adapted to enclose such dispensing opening, said cap body constructed of a semi-flexible plastic material, an integral, annular skirt at the lower end of said body, said skirt extending radially outwardly from said body, holding means integral with said skirt for retaining said cap on such dispensing containers, said holding means including a plurality of inwardly directed, horizontally extending, and circumferentially spaced retainers positioned adjacent the lower edge of said skirt, said retainers extending inwardly beneath such bead on such dispensing container when said cap is in position on such dispensing container, a plurality of inwardly directed, horizontally extending, and circumferentially spaced expanders positioned on said skirt in vertically spaced relationship to said retianers, each of said expanders being positioned above and between adjacent ones of said retainers, said expanders having a bead contacting inner surface wherein the diameter of a circle defined by such inner surfaces of said expanders is less than such predetermined outer diameter of such bead, whereby when said cap is forced downwardly over such bead said flexible material is deformed forcing said retainers inwardly beneath said head, and disengagement means for removing said cap from such container, said disengagement means including an integral reinforced member adjacent said skirt, said reinforcing member defining therethrough an access opening, whereby a tool may be inserted in such opening to remove said cap from such dispensing container.

4. A tamperproof replaceable ca according to claim 3, wherein said access opening defined by said reinforced member is vertically spaced above said skirt.

5. A tamperproof replaceable cap, according to claim 3, wherein said access opening is defined by said reinforced member and by a portion of said skirt.

6. A tamperproof replaceable cap for use on a dispensing container having an upright body and a horizontally protruding bead around such body near the upper end thereof, said tamperproof replaceable cap comprising, a

generally cylindrically shaped body, a top integrally mounted on the upper end of said body, said top and said body constructed of a semi-flexible material, holding means integral with a lower portion of said body adjacent the bottom edge of said cap for engagement beneath such bead when said cap is in position on such container, said holding means including a plurality of inwardly directed retainers positioned adjacent such lower portion of said body, and disengagement means for removing said cap from such container, said disengagement means including an access opening, such access opening being vertically spaced from the bottom edge of the cap, wherein such access opening is surrounded by such semi-flexible material, and wherein a tool may be inserted in such access opening to remove said cap from such dispensing container.

7. A tamperproof replaceable cap, according to claim 6, wherein said body has an interior surface and wherein said holding means includes a plurality of inwardly directed and circumferentially spaced retainers positioned on such interior surface adjacent the bottom edge of said cap, and a plurality of inwardly directed, and circumferentially spaced expanders positioned on such interior surface in vertically spaced relationship to said retainers, said expanders engaging such bead when said cap is in position on such dispensing container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. JAMES B. MARBERT, Examiner. 

1. A TEMPERPROOF REPLACEABLE CAP FOR USE ON A DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING AN UPRIGHT BODY AND A HORIZONTALLY PROTRUDING BEAD AROUND SUCH BODY NEAR THE UPPER END THEREOF, SAID TAMPERPROOF REPLACEABLE CAP BEING CONSTRUCTED OF A SEMI-FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL AND COMPRISING, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED BODY, A TOP INTEGRALLY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF SAID BODY, SAID BODY HAVING AN ANNULAR SKIRT PORTION ADJACENT ITS LOWER EDGE, SAID ANNULAR SKIRT PORTION HAVING AN INTERIOR SURFACE, HOLDING MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID SKIRT PORTION FOR RETAINING SAID CAP ON SUCH DISPENSING CONTAINER, SAID HOLDING MEANS IN CLUDING A PLURALITY OF INWARDLY DIRECTED AND CIRCUMFERENCE TIALLY SPACED RETAINERS POSITIONED ON SAID INTERIOR SURFACE ADJACENT THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID SKIRT PORTION, SAID RETAINERS EXTENDING INWARDLY BENEATH SUCH BEAD ON SUCH DISPENSING CONTAINER WHEN SAID CAP IS IN POSITION ON SUCH DISPENSING CONTAINER, A PLURALITY OF INWARDLY DIRECTED AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED EXPANDERS POSITIONED ON SAID INTERIOR SURFACE IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID RETAINERS, SAID EXPANDERS ENGAGING SUCH BEAD WHEN SAID CAP IS IN POSITION ON SUCH DISPENSING CONTAINER, AND DISENGAGEMENT MEANS ON SAID CAP FOR REMOVING SAID CAP FROM SUCH CONTAINER, SAID DISENGAGEMENT MEANS INCLUDING A TOOL ACCESS OPENING DEFINED BY SAID BODY. 